The Money Pit Home Improvement Podcast

SHOW NOTES: This hour, we'll tackle a variety of common homeowner issues and share valuable advice to keep your home comfortable, safe, and looking its best. Here are some of the main topics we covered, along with the specific home projects our callers are working on: - Cool Tips for Heat Wave Home Comfort: We share several strategies to help your home stay cool during a heat wave without escalating energy bills. - Backyard Pool Considerations: We weigh the pros and cons of installing a pool, noting that while pools offer entertainment and can add value in hot climates, they come with significant initial costs and ongoing maintenance expenses. - Home Safety While Traveling: We offer essential tips to keep your home safe while on vacation, emphasizing making it appear occupied. - Smart Roofing Upgrades for Cooling: We discuss how your roof impacts your home's temperature and energy bills, highlighting cool roof designs that reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat. - Grill Cleaning & Maintenance: We’ve got practical tips on cleaning and maintaining your grill to ensure better flavor, extend its lifespan, and provide a safer cooking experience.   Q & A: - Allison from New York needs advice on humanely trapping a squirrel running between her drop ceiling and basement. - Gary calls about a stubborn barbecue grease stain on the deck that household soap couldn't remove. We suggest using a commercial deck cleaner or stain stripper. - Nancy from Arkansas asks for the best way to remove cobwebs and clean her mom's popcorn ceiling. - John from Missouri is puzzled why his pressure-treated wood is rotting within two years despite being sealed with a solid stain. - Judy from Minnesota observed moisture halfway down the paneling in her 40-year-old home, suspecting condensation and the need to reduce humidity. - Earl called about buckling vinyl siding, likely due to being installed too tightly. Doing so prevented proper expansion and contraction, or not enough “breathing room.” - Robin from New Jersey says her ceiling fan light comes on by itself at weird times. Flickering lights often indicate a loose wire or short circuit, and we recommend calling an electrician for investigation.   ASK A QUESTION: Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SHOW NOTES: This hour, we're focusing on eco-friendly home improvements and design tips to help your money pit and Mother Nature, especially as we've just experienced a significant heatwave across the US. We're exploring how to save some green while going green this summer, with easy, affordable projects that can shrink your energy bills, cut back on waste, and help the planet. Here’s a look at the topics and calls we’ll cover: - Attic Upgrades: Your attic can either work for you or against you in the summer. We're sharing smart attic upgrades to keep your home cooler, cut energy costs, and protect your home from summer's worst side effects. - Strategic Landscaping for Cooling: You can cool your home without touching the thermostat by letting nature do the work. We discuss how strategic landscaping, such as planting shade trees, can naturally reduce heat and energy bills while giving your yard a green upgrade. - Eco-Friendly Design and DIY Projects: We're all about eco-friendly home upgrades that benefit both the planet and your wallet.   Q & A: - Mike from Alaska called in with a question about an upstairs window that leaks when it rains, noting drips from the soffits. We discussed potential causes, including backed-up gutters, failed sealant, or improper flashing. - Susan from California asked about options for her 38-year-old asphalt driveway that needs to be redone, but she doesn't want to resurface with blacktop. - Mark has a beautiful log cabin home that hasn't been stained in 8 years and is fading. We advise him on the process of cleaning the raw lumber, letting it dry, and then choosing a stain that includes UV protection. - Ed is dealing with a serious issue with his 1880s Victorian home's brick foundation, where the bottom layer of bricks is starting to bow out. For such a critical structural concern, we strongly recommend consulting a structural engineer to diagnose the problem. - Darlene from Texas has a flagstone patio with uneven stones and nothing between the cracks. - Carl from Massachusetts emailed us about a foul odor coming from his newly installed dishwasher. This is often due to bio-gas buildup, and we have tips on how to clean those trouble spots.   ASK A QUESTION: Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SHOW NOTES: We’ve got a great show planned this hour, with great tips to help you achieve your design dreams and enjoy your money pit, both indoors and out! Coming up, join us for home improvement topics that include: - Making a Small Room Feel Bigger with simple paint color tricks to make your indoor spaces feel more inviting. - We celebrate 85 Years of QUIKRETE Innovation with Jeff Russell, who’s been with the company for more than 30 years, to help with DIY concrete repairs! - Getting Your Grill Ready for Summer and Designing Your Outdoor Kitchen with the right fuel types, must-have gas grill features, and design tips your guests will love.   Q & A: Let’s turn your to-do list into a done list with answers to these and other home improvement questions from today’s callers: - Carolyn in Pennsylvania is dealing with a persistent musty odor from mold in her kitchen lazy Susan cabinet. - Jason in New Jersey is looking for an affordable countertop refinishing solution for his kitchen renovation that offers a durable coating. - Marie in Ontario, Canada, asked about the efficiency of using ceiling fans or her furnace fan versus the air conditioner as options for cooling her ranch house. - Kevin in Georgia struggles with a carpenter bee infestation around his screen porch and privacy fence, despite using various extermination methods. - Pat in Arkansas has a new heat pump that is not reducing humidity like she was hoping it would. - Caitlyn from New York asks what to look out for when repairing water damage in a home that was built in 1820.   ASK A QUESTION: Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SHOW NOTES: This hour, we've given you permission to relax on your long holiday weekend, although it’s also totally cool to use the time to tackle some projects around your money pit! We’ll be covering some fantastic topics, including: - Five easy ways to upgrade your space on a budget, making your home feel fresh, stylish, and totally “you” without spending a bundle. - The importance of a quick summer roof check and how a simple treatment can help you avoid costly repairs and extend your roof's life by years. - An easy DIY project that adds style, seating, and serious summer vibes all in one weekend: how to build a backyard bench that's simple, budget-friendly, and totally custom.   Q & A: And speaking of calls, we heard from quite a few of you with your pressing home improvement questions! Here’s a quick recap of who called in: - Robin in Missouri called about disgusting mold in her Jacuzzi tub's internal plumbing system and the fading finish of her previously restored tub. - Larry in Louisiana is dealing with a significant issue: a sinking addition on his pier house, causing a noticeable bow in his kitchen floor. - Taylor asked for advice on how to fix annoying swelling doors that stick! - Kevin from Wisconsin messaged us, seeking guidance on choosing between a metal roof and asphalt shingles for a new 1,700-square-foot home. - Reena in Massachusetts was undertaking a painting project after removing old vinyl wallpaper and asked for advice on preparing the walls and priming. - David in Texas has concerns about water leakage when replacing a sliding glass door on his patio. - Martha sent an email to ask how to remove paint from a brick fireplace. - Mark, via email, needed to ensure his plywood subfloor was flat before installing new engineered wood flooring.   ASK A QUESTION: Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SHOW NOTES: You've tuned into "The Money Pit," your weekly guide to making your home sweet home the best it can be without turning it into a bottomless money pit! This week, we share helpful tips on: - Getting rid of those stubborn tree stumps without breaking the bank. - Boosting your home's curb appeal and efficiency with gorgeous Therma-Tru fiberglass doors that look just like wood, but without the upkeep. - Rocking your outdoor space with a new stackable stone to build great-looking patios and fire pits more easily than ever. Plus, tips on everything from cleaning your dishwasher to keeping your smoke detectors in tip-top shape, and even how to invite some high-speed sparkle to your yard with hummingbirds.   Q & A: We also have our incredible callers who reached out to us with their home improvement questions! Here’s a quick rundown of who we heard from and what they're tackling: - Eleanor in Virginia has a question about dark, mold-like spots on her gray Trex decking that are difficult to remove with a power washer or bleach. - Tommy in Alaska is battling an "ice-cold water issue,” with super low cold water pressure at just one kitchen faucet in his duplex. - Pat called in with a painting question, wondering if it's possible to paint aluminum siding without it peeling, especially on the sunny south side of her home. - Anthony in Upstate New York is dealing with a chimney losing its stucco on his 80-year-old house. - Jeremy in Pennsylvania is contending with a leaky finished basement that’s causing moisture problems and a musty smell. - Beverly in Missouri has concerns about painting the cedar posts on her covered patio and whether it will cause them to rot. - Max is working on a decking project and wants to know the best floor joist spacing for installing Trex composite decking. - Carrie reached out by email to ask if she could use leftover indoor floor tile on her porch and sidewalk, and if it’s too slippery for outdoor use.   ASK A QUESTION: Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SHOW NOTES: Coming up this hour, we’ll have some terrific, timely discussions to help you with more indoor and outdoor projects as the season heats up! Join us as we delve into: - How to avoid costly mistakes when building the deck of your dreams. - An affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to costly asphalt roof replacement that can extend the life of your shingles with Roof Maxx. - Tips to help you keep the power on during summer storms and outages, including backup power sources and surge protection. - Quick and affordable ways to refresh your home's decor for the summer season, using breezy fabrics and fresh colors.   Q & A: And we're taking your calls, hearing from listeners just like you about their home dilemmas! On the line, we've heard from: - Linda from Washington is asking about painting over dark Formica kitchen countertops. - Michael from Rhode Island is dealing with uneven heating and cooling in his split-level home. - Mary in Wisconsin wonders about the best flooring options for her basement concrete after removing old carpet. - Paul from Illinois faces roofing issues with old box gutters that are backing up and are difficult to clean due to the roof's height. - Katherine from Delaware inquires about building a homemade stone fire pit versus buying a metal one. - Victoria from Arkansas is having issues with small areas of shower grout falling out. - Greg from Louisiana needs advice on fixing a broken shut-off valve handle for his toilet. - Lisa sends an email seeking non-pesticide solutions for moles showing up in her vegetable garden. - Ken emails us to ask about the difference between replacement windows and other kinds of new windows.   ASK A QUESTION: Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SHOW NOTES: Coming up this hour, we've got some incredible discussions to help you tackle those summer projects! We’re also taking your calls, hearing from listeners just like you about their home improvement dilemmas! Stayed tuned to learn about: - Pool Safety: If you've got a pool, you know safety is paramount, and we'll be breaking down the unique requirements for pool fencing to keep everyone safe this summer. - Roof Rejuvenation: We're joined by Mike Feazel from Roof Maxx to talk about an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to costly roof replacements that can extend the life of your shingles. - Drywall Repairs: Those pesky wall cracks, nail pops, and splitting seams? We've got tips to make sure your drywall fixes are "one and done." - Pet-Friendly Decorating: Leslie's Last Word will help you design a beautiful, pet-friendly home that stands up to your well-meaning furry friends.   Q & A: - Martha from Ohio is dealing with a leaky window due to improper installation and a saturated flower bed. - Terry from Kansas seeks advice on the proper time and method to paint a stucco exterior after a previous peeling issue. - Katherine from Arizona is struggling with failed sod and exposed mesh netting on her lawn in a cold mountain climate. - Kim from Tennessee is looking for solutions to get rid of moles causing damage in her yard. - Albert from Massachusetts inquires about upgrading the minimal insulation in his 50-year-old home's attic. - Tim from New York wonders if he needs to put anything on the wall before installing a glass tile backsplash in his kitchen.   ASK A QUESTION: Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SHOW NOTES: This episode is packed with fantastic ideas and solutions to tackle those nagging projects! We're talking about everything from making your outdoor space your favorite place with porches, patios, landscaping, hardscaping, fences, and fire pits. We'll also cover crucial indoor home improvement topics, because inside or outside, we're on your side! Here’s a sneak peek at what we've been chatting about and who's been calling in: - Natural Stone Countertops: We're exploring the pros and cons of caring for those gorgeous natural stone countertops in your kitchen and bathroom spaces. While they're beautiful and durable, they're not entirely maintenance-free, folks! - The Top Five Filters in Your Home: As summer heats up and we close our windows to keep the air conditioning in, it's super important to maintain healthy indoor air. We're sharing the top five most crucial filters in your home that you need to be checking and cleaning. You might be surprised you have so many! - Summer Design Trends of 2025: Summer is the perfect time for home design projects, from small updates to major overhauls. We'll dive into the top eight summer design trends for 2025, including "color drenching," metallic accents, beverage stations, fun zones, "wood drenching," French country decor, and water conservation in landscaping.   OUR CALLERS: - Carol in Texas wanted to know if she could pressure wash and re-stain weathered treated lumber on her porches with a transparent stain, much like her new porch. - Brian in Massachusetts called in about painting his honey oak kitchen cabinets white and asked about the necessary preparation, especially for filling in the deep grain. - Bonnie faced a dilemma with sealing concrete after flood damage, seeking a less toxic alternative to a strong-smelling basement sealer. - Byron successfully removed his popcorn ceiling and wanted to know the proper next steps for prepping and painting the now-flat surface. - Steve in Arizona inquired about the necessity and benefits of having his air ducts cleaned. - Jonas in Washington was looking to add a fascia-mounted railing to his balcony for more space, but was concerned about a gutter that was currently in the way. - Alex in Florida reached out because his four-year-old central air conditioning system works well, except for one front room that's consistently about five degrees hotter than the rest of the house.   ASK A QUESTION: Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SHOW NOTES: Hey Money Pit fans! Get ready for another exciting episode focused on making your home safer, quieter, and more functional, especially with summer approaching. And we hope all the dads out there had a very happy Father's Day! Coming up: - Find out the most effective ways to curb the mosquito population around your house, mainly by eliminating all sources of standing water, where mosquitoes lay their eggs. - We'll welcome Dave Kyle, CEO of Trex RainEscape, to explain how their under-deck drainage system creates a dry, usable space beneath an elevated deck, protecting the structure from moisture and allowing for the addition of electrical and gas lines for various outdoor amenities. - Learn crucial ladder safety tips such as keeping the ladder stationary, leveling its feet on various surfaces, proper positioning at a 75-degree angle, looking for overhead wires, and avoiding resting it against rounded objects like trees.   Q & A: - Darlene from Baltimore is dealing with noise issues between the upstairs and downstairs apartments. The best soundproofing solution involves opening up the wall to install mineral wool insulation and potentially sound-deadening drywall. - Tim from Michigan has a vinyl linoleum floor with wrinkles and an uneven subfloor. We advise using a floor leveling compound and consider replacing the floor with a waterproof engineered vinyl plank or luxury vinyl plank product. - Britney from Michigan must repair a crumbling cobblestone foundation in her old farmhouse. This load-bearing wall issue requires a specialized technique called needle beaming to temporarily support the house while the foundation is disassembled and rebuilt, ideally overseen by a structural engineer or architect. - Maya from Iowa needs help removing outdoor carpet glued to concrete steps. It’s a tough job best tackled with a chemical adhesive remover to soften the glue, followed by options like thin pavers or outdoor-rated ceramic tile for resurfacing. - Marcy in Nebraska has a 15,000 BTU window AC unit that keeps tripping her breaker in the heat of the afternoon. An overloaded or low-amperage circuit can be identified using a "fox and hound" circuit tracker and may ultimately require an electrical system check-up or upgrade by a professional electrician. - Marcus in New Jersey is installing a new exterior door and wonders if he still needs a storm door. They’re generally not necessary for energy efficiency with modern doors, but can be added for airflow, keeping in mind that direct sun can cause heat buildup and potentially melt trim.  We're here every week, and you can call us 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) if your home needs a fix! Or you can always post your question here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SHOW NOTES: Hey Money Pit fans! We’re kicking things off with a special Happy Father's Day shout-out to all the dads and dad figures out there! Then, listen in as we dive into the essentials of designing an amazing outdoor kitchen for your backyard gatherings and discuss how metal roofs can significantly reduce your cooling costs. Plus, learn how to safely clean up and repair broken windows, and get helpful answers to lots more home improvement questions to make your home better, inside and out! Learn comprehensive tips on designing outdoor kitchens, emphasizing the need for ground fault protected (GFCI) electrical outlets, plumbing that can be drained, and outdoor-rated appliances, ideally located on an existing patio. Discover how metal roofing can significantly boost your home's energy efficiency by reducing cooling costs, thanks to its low thermal mass, heat-reflective coatings, and integral air space. With summer storm season upon us, get crucial tips on cleaning up broken window glass safely using wet paper towels for tiny pieces and preventing future damage by securing potential projectiles around your home. Q & A: Sally is battling foggy double-pane windows. A failed thermopane seal is allowing the insulative gas to escape, impacting energy efficiency and requiring replacement. Jason is dealing with noisy plumbing when filling his master bathroom tub and spitting cold water from other sinks. A bad washer in the faucet or high water pressure can be fixed by replacing or cleaning the washer. Thomas from Louisiana has a portable AC unit that keeps tripping breakers and causing the extension cord to heat up from an under-rated 100-foot extension cord. He needs an electrician to properly label circuits and verify wire sizes. Leslie provides a tip of the day on smoke detectors, advising to check if they are over 5 years old and highlighting new models with photoelectric sensors for better protection against slow smoldering fires. For the dads in your life, consider upgrading their favorite spaces like garages or man caves with LED lighting or shelving, and Leslie raves about the convenience and security of installing a keyless entry system. Donna has a disgusting problem at a fitness facility shower with slimy, brown mold that bleach hasn't fixed. We recommend controlling humidity and using a commercial cleaner like Zep Shower Tub & Tile Cleaner. Michael's got a cracking pool deck, a common issue due to ground movement. We suggest Quikrete's Crack Seal, a latex emulsion product designed to flow into and solidify those cracks for a lasting fix, unlike mortar or concrete. Finally, we'll help Abby, a DIY novice, with her project of refinishing a sun-damaged front door, recommending taking it off its hinges, using a vibrating sander, and choosing a door finish with high UV protection.  ASK A QUESTION: We're here every week, and you can always call us at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) if your home needs a fix! Or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices